RT Journal Article
T1 Biocrusts increase the resistance to warming-induced increases in topsoil P pools
A1 García Velázquez, Laura
A1 Gallardo, Antonio
A1 Ochoa, Victoria
A1 Lázaro, Roberto
A1 Maestre, Fernando T.
K1 Biological soil crusts
K1 Climate change
K1 Dryland ecosystems
K1 Phosphorus deposition
K1 Phosphorus fractions
AB Ongoing global warming and alterations in rainfall patterns driven by climate change are known to have large impacts on biogeochemical cycles, particularly on drylands. In addition, the global increase in atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can destabilize primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems, and phosphorus (P) may become the most limiting nutrient in many terrestrial ecosystems. However, the impacts of climate change on soil P pools in drylands remain poorly understood. Furthermore, it is unknown whether biocrusts, a major biotic component of drylands worldwide, modulate such impacts. Here we used two long-term (8-10 years) experiments conducted in Central (Aranjuez) and SE (Sorbas) Spain to test how a ~2.5°C warming, a ~30% rainfall reduction and biocrust cover affected topsoil (0-1 cm) P pools (non-occluded P, organic P, calcium bound P, occluded P and total P). Warming significantly increased most P pools-except occluded P-in Aranjuez, whereas only augmented non-occluded P in Sorbas. The rainfall reduction treatment had no effect on the soil P pools at any experimental site. Biocrusts increased most soil P pools and conferred resistance to simulated warming for major P pools at both sites, and to rainfall reduction for non-occluded and occluded P in Aranjuez. Synthesis. Our findings provide novel insights on the responses of soil P pools to warming and rainfall reduction, and highlight the importance of biocrusts as modulators of these responses in dryland ecosystems. Our results suggest that the observed negative impacts of warming on dryland biocrust communities will decrease their capacity to buffer changes in topsoil P driven by climate change.
PB Wiley
SN 0022-0477
SN 1365-2745
YR 2022
FD 2022-05
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10433/14530
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10433/14530
LA en
NO Biocrusts increase the resistance to warming-induced increases in topsoil P pools. Journal of Ecology, 110, 2074-2087
NO Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales
DS RIO
RD May 9, 2026